Former Rubio Intern and DeSantis Campaign Organizer Arrested on Jan. 6 Charges

Barbara Balmaseda faces felony and misdemeanor charges for her alleged involvement in the Capitol riot, sparking criticism from her attorney over the use of law enforcement resources.

• Barbara Balmaseda, a former intern for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and an organizer for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' 2018 campaign, has been arrested on charges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
• Balmaseda is charged with a felony offense of obstruction of an official proceeding and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
• Balmaseda was allegedly captured on surveillance video breaching the Crypt of the U.S. Capitol.
• Her attorney, Aubrey Webb, deemed the 23-year-old’s arrest by a task force of 'FBI, Marshals, ATF and Metro-Dade Police' as a 'waste of law enforcement resources' for what amounts to 'essentially trespassing charges.'
• Over 1,230 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 440 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.

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